NEW ORLEANS — It was over, garbage time, time for the no-names to check in — when one realized the no-names were already in.

The rebuilding Hornets, without their two top players, ended the Nuggets' 15-game win streak abruptly and abrasively, 110-86 on Monday, with guys such as Brian Roberts and Darius Miller having huge nights.

Denver was disheartening. By halftime, Denver trailed 59-38 — the 21-point halftime deficit was the Nuggets' largest of the season.

"There wasn't a fundamental that we did better than they did," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "When you shoot poorly, and turn it over, it creates tempo for any team. In the first half, we shot poorly and turned it over an obnoxious amount of times (10). So we didn't have any pace. And they had a lot of pace."

Denver Nuggets guard Wilson Chandler drives to the basket as New Orleans Hornets center Robin Lopez defends during the second half on Monday in New Orleans. (Bill Haber, The Associated Press)

Folks are learning as much about Ty Lawson's importance when he's not playing as when he is. After a scorching couple of months, the point guard missed his third consecutive game with a heel bruise. In the previous two, Denver barely beat two lottery teams. And then the first half in New Orleans was atrociously abysmal (abysmally atrocious?). Fill-in starting point guard Andre Miller was minus-28, seldom getting Denver into a rhythm.

It's been six days since Lawson injured the heel at Oklahoma City. Karl said Monday that it looked "tender." Lawson will get treatment and go through a light workout in San Antonio on Tuesday, as he aims for the big matchup against the Spurs on Wednesday.

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Sure, the streak was going end at some point. But like this? The Hornets (25-46), already one of the worst teams in the Western Conference, were without Eric Gordon (16.3 points per game) and Greivis Vasquez (14.1 points and 9.3 assists). But Roberts tallied 18 — yes, 18 — assists, a high for any NBA rookie this season, while scoring 13 points, while Miller made four 3s.

"Our game plan was to try to trap the ball, and their point guard found the open man, making smart passes," Denver's Miller said. "We respected all their players, but they were aggressive."

Denver's Danilo Gallinari did score a game-high 24 points, but Denver had little rhythm, playing tentatively for much of the game.

Karl decided to shake things up at the half, which is unlike the veteran coach who thrives off his rotations. In the second half, he decided to start Wilson Chandler at the power forward ahead of Kenneth Faried, who was minus-14 in the first half.

Chandler, back from his shoulder separation, finished with 11, but was 3-for-10.

And so, the streak is over. Denver had tied its franchise record with the 15 wins, and looked to cement history here in New Orleans.

But the Hornets shot them out of the gym.

The Hornets shot 14-for-25 from beyond the arc (56 percent). The most 3s made by a Nuggets' opponent this season is 17 (Lakers on Nov. 30).

The Denver Post's Benjamin Hochman posts analysis, notes and more on this blog focusing on the Denver Nuggets.

"A lot of the last three games have been human nature — we win some games and think we're probably a little better than we are," Karl said. "We're happy, feeling good and this league has a way of humbling anyone without the right approach.

"I'm not saying we're in a bad place, but in the past three games, we haven't been the committed team we need to be."

Nuggets Recap

What you might have missedThe Nuggets thrive when they push and penetrate for paint points. They lead the league with 57.3 points in the paint per game, but by halftime only had 16. Denver finished with only 38, and actually was outscored in the paint (44). ... Denver was 31-for-39 from the free-throw line, equaling its season high for free throws made, in a Feb. 22 loss at Washington. ... On one possession in the third quarter, Denver missed three shots and got three offensive rebounds before Jordan Hamilton scored for the Nuggets. Hamilton, put in to help inspire Denver, scored seven points in 10½ minutes.

One-day event to run slide down University HillIt's not quite the alternative mode of transportation that Boulder's used to, but, for one day this summer, residents will be able to traverse several city blocks atop inflatable tubes.